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Conference focuses on diversity, Nov. 9-11

Posted November 1, 2006; 10:48 p.m.

by Ruth Stevens

Princeton alumni and other University community members will gather
on campus to focus on diversity issues during a conference Thursday
through Saturday, Nov. 9-11.

"Kaleidoscope: An Alumni Conference on Race and Community at Princeton
University" is intended to bring together alumni, faculty, students,
senior administrators and trustees to reflect on changes that have
occurred at Princeton in recent years, to identify today's challenges
and opportunities, and to look ahead.

"The Kaleidoscope conference is an opportunity for all Princeton alumni
to explore issues related to race and community and to examine the ways
in which an expanded commitment to diversity allows Princeton to
achieve more fully its highest aspirations for teaching, research and
service to others," University President Shirley M. Tilghman wrote in a
letter to invitees.

It will start with a reception on Thursday evening and will continue
through a dinner and performance on Saturday evening. Conference
sessions will begin on Friday morning with welcoming remarks by
Tilghman and an opening address titled "Reflections on Diversity at
Princeton" by President Emeritus William G. Bowen.

That session will be followed by presentations on campus diversity
initiatives by University administrators and a luncheon panel of
several students focusing on campus diversity experiences. The rest of
the day on Friday will be devoted to discussions on topics including
"Race in the Arts" and "Politics and Race" led by faculty members and
alumni.

A Friday dinner will include a presentation on "The Princeton-Dillard
Relationship in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina" by Danille Taylor, a
1974 Princeton graduate who is dean of humanities at Dillard. Princeton
and Brown universities formed a partnership in September 2005 to help
the historically black institution in New Orleans restore operations
after its campus was devastated by the hurricane. It re-opened in
January 2006. The dinner will be followed by performances by students
and alumni.

During the day on Saturday, participants will be able to attend
sessions on undergraduate and graduate admission and outreach and on
the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. A conversation with Tilghman is
scheduled for 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon featuring a
presentation on the Princeton University Preparatory Program targeting
high-achieving, low-income students from area high schools by faculty
member Miguel Centeno.

Concurrent sessions led by faculty and alumni on Saturday afternoon
will explore topics ranging from religious diversity at Princeton to
access to higher education. The event will conclude with a dinner
featuring an address by faculty member Albert Raboteau and a
performance titled "Refried Latino Pride" by spoken-word poet Joe
Hernández-Kolski, a 1996 Princeton alumnus.

It is free and open to all members of the University community. Those
who would like to attend the meals must register by visiting the
conference Web site or by calling the Office of the Alumni Association at (609) 258-5830.